Fascinating food in New York and occasionally farther afield

Nathan's Famous

Even dead center on the menu board, they wouldn't be your first thought at Nathan's.

Nor mine, except that I'd been surprised to see fried frog's legs and the hot dog mecca mentioned in the same short Saveur article. These (four for $6.99) were surely farmed; they had no flavor and, except for the breading, a too-soft texture. And judging by how fast my order was handed over, they were fried up in advance. Nothing at Nathan's may be prepared à la minute; that's no trouble for the constantly replenished dogs but a drawback for the low-turnover items. Like frog's legs.

Previously: A chili dog ($3.45) was snappy, even buried in beans. The chili itself wasn't meaty enough; next time I'll stick to the classic.

Dave, as far back as I can remember (the 1940s) Nathan's has sold frogs' legs. They used to have a MUCH broader menu including things like Jewish delicatessen sandwiches that have been dropped, but the frogs' legs have been a constant.

There definitely was a dining room at the rear of Nathan's. You accessed it from the alley between Nathan's and the bumper car place next to it on Surf Avenue. I do not remember a second story. Nathan's used to sell corn-on-the-cob from a stand on the same side of the alley as the bumper car place, but the stand was behind it. The alley was where the tables are now, but was only about 15 feet wide. It extended back to The Bowery.

Thanks for the history, Harvey. I'm not surprised that the layout of Nathan's a half-century ago was different from the layout today, but the frog's legs — I'd never have guessed they were a menu item of such long standing!

does anyone remember a lobster roll sandwich back in the 1960s. i remember it had lobster on a hamburger roll under broiler with some type of russian dressing. Does anyone know this recipe???? i have been trying to find this recipe with no luck at all.